This Ends at Prom

Content Warning: LET THE RIGHT ONE IN features troubling topics that may be difficult for some listeners. Please do your due diligence and check for potential triggers.

"I'm twelve. But I've been twelve for a long time."

In 2008, one of the greatest vampire films in cinema history was released, and it doubled as one of the most beautiful examinations of the type of yearning for someone to understand you that can only take place during adolescence. LET THE RIGHT ONE IN is a haunting, stunning, and devastating film that sincerely changed the lives of The...

"Do you know I'm anatomically correct?"

While everyone is celebrating entering their "new year, new me" era, This Ends at Prom is kicking off 2026 with the long-awaited discussion of LIFE-SIZE. The movie that strut in plastic heels before Barbie could rollerblade down Venice Beach, The Wives Colangelo are talking about unapologetic feminine presentation, the power of dollhood, why Lindsay Lohan continues to rock, and what the hell that line about anatomical correctness means.

--------

Become a Patron! https://www.patreon.com/thisendsatprom

--------

MONTHLY SPOTLIGHT

The Flytrap...

“I’m so sick of people saying that love is just all a woman is fit for. I'm so sick of it."

The best way to spend the holidays is curled up next to a warm fire and waxing poetic about the March sisters and LITTLE WOMEN. This year, The Wives Colangelo are dissecting Greta Gerwig's adaptation of Louisa May Alcott's novel, and debating the parallel storytelling device. And not to pit strong LITTLE WOMEN against each other, but they're also going to compare and contrast this version with the sacred 1994 film covered in 2023.

--------

"That's what I like about you. I never know what you'll say next."

Alex Thompson and Kelly O'Sullivan's SAINT FRANCES was one of the best films released during quarantine, and no one has been a bigger champion of it than writer, editor, critic, and host Amelia Emberwing. The Wives Colangelo are joined by Emberwing to dissect what a coming-of-age film looks like as life milestones become increasingly unattainable, what adults can learn from children, the ways womanhood is scrutinized even in progressive spaces, and how period blood can be used to tell a story

--------<...

"That's what I like about you. I never know what you'll say next."

40 years ago, Madonna transcended into pop star superstardom and helped turn a quarter-life crisis film into a coming-of-age classic that helped define teen fashion for a decade. Many women are shaped by the women who came before them and showed them what was possible, and that's precisely what Susan provided for a generation. Sometimes being desperate is the best thing for you.

--------

Become a Patron! https://www.patreon.com/thisendsatprom

--------

MONTHLY SPOTLIGHT

...

"So today's lesson is, you kill each other off till there's only one left. Nothing's against the rules."

25 years ago, Kinji Fukasaku brought the infamous novel BATTLE ROYALE to life, and essentially invented a new subgenre of dystopian teen cinema. In honor of the film's anniversary, The Wives Colangelo are exploring the incredibly bleak messaging the film has about generational division, government-sanctioned violence, and the disposability of youth. Don't worry, this week's episode will also get into the discourse surrounding the film's connection to THE HUNGER GAMES, and why Quentin Tarantino doesn't know what he's talking about.<...

"I... have a girlfriend. She lives in Ohio."

The first fall break after leaving your hometown and going off to college is one of the weirdest adjustment periods in a young person's life, and it's weird that SWEETHEARTS is one of the only movies to talk about it! This week The Wives Colangelo are heading back to the Midwest to discuss "Turkey Dumps," taking the jump without the safety net of familiarity, and the importance of intergenerational queer friendships in small towns.

--------

Become a Patron! https://www.patreon.com/thisendsatprom

...

"I am gonna do what I wanna do! And you know what? I don't need your permission to do it!"

What if your grandparents magically turned back into teenagers, and they were so hot that it caused chaos in your high school? And what if you look exactly like your grandma did at your age, so this magical regression inspires some twin magic hijinks? This week, The Wives Colangelo are joined by Aaron Perine of Free Space to talk about the only movie to feature all three Mowry siblings, SEVENTEEN AGAIN. Let's talk about the Tia/Tamera...

"So this is what it feels like to be Jamie Lynn Spears."

There are two types of people in this world: People who love Lifetime Original Movies and people named Harmony Colangelo. This Ends at Prom is finally embarking on the wild world of LMN originals and starting with THE PREGNANCY PACT, a ripped-from-the-headlines drama with massive creative liberties taken. What actually happened to these girls? Why are so many people obsessed with stories about teen girls behaving "badly," and where is the line between entertainment and exploitation?

--------

Become a Patron! https...

"Put on your Sunday best, kids. We're going to Sears!"

The Brady Bunch is one of those fascinating TV relics that helped shape American culture for decades, so in the 1990s, they lovingly spoofed it with THE BRADY BUNCH MOVIE and gave us one of the great cult-hits of the decade. To sweeten the deal, the film is also centered on the middle teen girl of the group, the incomparable Jan Brady. Join The Wives Colangelo on a trip down memory lane on a sunshine day!

--------

Become a Patron! https://www.patreon...

"Don't dream it. Be it."

50 years ago, a midnight movie was unleashed on the American masses that changed the lives of outsider teenagers forever. The Wives Colangelo would not be the people we are today without THE ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW, and neither would Chelsey Weber-Smith of the American Hysteria podcast. For the final episode of the Halloween season 2025, let's all do the time warp, give ourselves over to absolute pleasure, and tackle arguably the greatest movie ever made about liberating yourself from the standards of the status quo.

--------

Become a Patron...

"That's the whole point. I'm going to marry the Prince."

THE UGLY STEPSISTER is Emilie Blichfeldt's first feature, and it is unfathomable that a first-time feature filmmaker was given the space (and budget) to make such a biting, daring, and monstrous creative swing. The reason Cinderella is a fairy tale is that to be a woman so pure and beautiful that a rich prince takes you away from your terrible existence is a fantasy. The painful truth is that for the majority of us, we will never be Cinderella and have far more in common with "the...

"The girls will wake up ... when they are hungry."

Is Hausu secretly the most honest coming-of-age teen girl horror movie ever made? This week, The Wives Colangelo are diving into the wild, weird, and wonderful world of Nobuhiko Obayashi's 1977 masterpiece, HOUSE. Hell truly is a teenage girl, and this week the show is discussing seven young women who were eaten before adulthood had the chance to destroy them.

--------

Become a Patron! https://www.patreon.com/thisendsatprom

--------

MONTHLY SPOTLIGHT

Help Barbara Fight for Her Future After...

"We're made to be monsters, so let's be monsters. Let's be gods."

BIT is the intersectional, trans-inclusive, vampire girl gang movie of your dreams, and The Wives Colangelo are here to talk about it for the most wonderful month of the year. How do you exist in a world that makes you out to be a monster just for existing, and what do you do when you're given the kind of power that cis straight white men have been abusing for years? Well, it's time we all found out! This week features an especially political discussion, so...

"Please, Lord, make me the biggest star the world has ever known so that I may get far, far away from this place. Amen."

The Wives Colangelo are kicking off the Halloween season by discussing a young woman who will not accept a life she does not deserve, the titular PEARL. Discussions include the liberating excitement of seeing an adult film for the first time, the weird ways repression can manifest (like that scarecrow), how hard it is to accept when strict parents have a point, and the soul-crushing reality of your best not being enough. It's...

"Fate! There is such a thing as fate, but it only takes you so far. Then it's up to you to make it happen."

Everyone loves that one last house party after high school before everything changes, especially when it has a banger soundtrack, introduces the next generation of Hollywood superstardom, and gives us all a reason to believe in fate. This week, the Wives Colangelo are finally tackling CAN'T HARDLY WAIT, and are joined by the incomparable Niko Stratis to do it! Did you know a Kenny in high school? Can you believe that Carlisle Cullen...

"If it's a man's world, God wouldn't have made me."

This week, The Wives Colangelo are championing the young women who were ever called a "bad influence" and celebrating the rural queer kids fighting for a chance to exist in a world that tries to literally straighten them out by talking about DIRTY GIRL. This criminally underrated and underseen road trip comedy is the exact kind of subversive comedy This Ends at Prom loves to highlight, and hopefully, you'll be able to sit in a little necessary discomfort to grow with these wild and wonderful characters, too...

"Why are you trying so hard to fit in when you are born to stand out?"

This week, The Wives Colangelo are hopping the pond and showing up to merry ol' England to find their long-lost rich dads and talk about the Amanda Bynes classic, WHAT A GIRL WANTS. Discussions include dissecting why so many movies post-9/11 were overseas adventures, the glory of Colin Firth in leather pants, and why the statement "straight kids don't have to come out" is untrue when we're talking about the prison of wealth.

--------

Become a Patron...

“That’s the funny thing about hope. Nobody else gets to decide if you feel it. That choice belongs to you.”

We're goin' up, up, up! It's our moment! You know together we're glowin'! KPOP DEMON HUNTERS has quickly become a phenomenon, and we are loving every second of it. This week, The Wives Colangelo are doing a deep dive into the world of K-pop with film journalist, culture critic, host, and K-pop superfan, Laura Sirikul! Why is everyone so obsessed with this movie? What makes this animated film one of the best of the year? Will "Golden...

"UGH. AS IF!"

Back in 2020, the recently married Wives Colangelo sat down in their Cleveland apartment to kill some time during quarantine and talk about teen girl movies. Now, five years later, in a different apartment in Los Angeles, they're returning to the movie that started it all and celebrating how it has changed culture in the last 30 years -- CLUELESS. A film this monumental deserved revisiting and a proper This Ends at Prom episode backed by the expertise forged out of over 500 hours worth of weekly film analysis.

Thank you for five years of...

"My face looks like a Birkin bag that's been left out in the sun to rot!"

The long-awaited sequel to 2003's FREAKY FRIDAY is finally here, and The Wives Colangelo are thrilled to finally have a movie in theaters that they can cover on the show. Is FREAKIER FRIDAY a worthy follow-up to the absolute best film in the franchise, or was it another cheap bid for nostalgia that no one needed? Is a four-way body swap too confusing for audiences to make sense of, or is the promise of Jamie Lee Curtis and Lindsay Lohan getting...

"As we grow older, it becomes difficult to just believe."

In honor of the film's 30th anniversary, The Wives Colangelo are stuffing their bras with pudding, trying to find the truth about a tombstone, having an existential crisis about coming back to their hometowns, and falling in love all over again with the movie NOW AND THEN. Let's talk about the sapphic energy of Sam and Roberta, the chokehold Devon Sawa had on a generation, and why male critics comparing the film to STAND BY ME is lazy film criticism.

--------

Become a...

"I've been kicked off the track team, and without track, my grades will be based on ...my grades."

The world lost a wonderful woman this month with the passing of Margo Donohue. In honor of her life and legacy, we're re-releasing our episode with her on HEAVEN HELP US, the 1985 Catholic school boys film filmed in Brooklyn. At the time of the episode, Margo had just released the book FILMED IN BROOKLYN, all about movies set in her stomping grounds. We also read a bit from Mike McPadden's TEEN MOVIE HELL, had the chance to...

"Music is all that matters. One hour on stage makes up for the other 23."

The Wives Colangelo are heading back to the Midwest for a trip, so it's only fitting that they'd cover an underrated shot-in-Cleveland story starring Joan Jett and Michael J. Fox about a pair of musical siblings trying to find their places in the world. Directed by Paul Schrader and featuring music by Bruce Springsteen, LIGHT OF DAY is an odd little slice of life in the Rust Belt that might be more interesting to talk about than it is to actually watch.

"As far as I'm concerned, a swimsuit body is a body with a swimsuit on it."

This week The Wives Colangelo are heading to Texas, signing up for a pageant to piss off our mothers, and learning from drag queens what it means to be a beauty queen with DUMPLIN'! It's time to discuss the insecurities our moms imprint on us, why seeking external validation while existing in a marginalized body is not anti-feminist, and why Dolly Parton truly is the North Star for anyone who has ever felt like they were too much or not enough.<...

"You're a girl that doesn't ask a guy what to do..."

Surf's up, and we're remembering having very confusing feelings about watching all of these cool surfers! BLUE CRUSH is one of those seminal sleepover classics that caused quite a stir for millennials everywhere, but we're breaking down why it's so good, why Anne-Marie is so iconic, and why the hell a guy is hanging around our surfer sisterhood story!

----

Become a Patron!

https://www.patreon.com/thisendsatprom

----

MONTHLY SUPPORT SPOTLIGHT

L.A...

"Charlotte, I know you're planning a celibate life, but with half my chromosomes, I think that might be tough."

We at This Ends at Prom firmly believe that we never stop coming-of-age, and this Cher/Winona Ryder/Christina Ricci/Bob Hoskins classic is proof positive of that! We're cutting our sandwiches into stars, co-opting Catholic guilt, yearning after people we shouldn't, moving across the country to avoid addressing our feelings, and finally talking about one of the ultimate "watch with your mom" movies, MERMAIDS.

----

Become a Patron!

https://www.patreon...

"That's a shame, being that it's the 4th of July and all. Kids like you should be out having fun. Drinking, partying, running people over, getting away with murder... things like that!"

Happy 4th of July to Helen Shivers, and only Helen Shivers. With a legacyquel on the way, it's time we finally talked about I KNOW WHAT YOU DID LAST SUMMER. BJ loves this movie and Harmony ... tolerates it, so for those of you who love episodes where The Wives Colangelo disagree, this one is going to be a favorite. Let's talk about urban legends, guilt...

"Ever feel like reality is more twisted than dreams?"

The Wives Colangelo are closing out Pride Month by introducing Harmony to the punk rock cinematic world of Gregg Araki and celebrating 30 years of THE DOOM GENERATION. Sometimes being a teenager feels like looking down the end of the world, and no one understands that feeling quite like Xavier Red, Jordan White, and Amy Blue. Let's talk about this middle finger to American conservatism, pro-polyamory, bisexual disasterpiece. This isn't queer as in "love is love," but it is most certainly queer as in f*ck you.

...

"It's a first-year college party. Everyone's gay."

This week The Wives Colangelo are joined by the ultra-hilarious D.J. Mausner to talk about their prom night comedy, PROM DATES! It's time to learn how this movie came to be, hear about the real-life inspirations behind the characters and absolutely wild scenarios these two best friends get themselves into, and honor the high school experiences of idiot pervert teenagers still figuring themselves out everywhere. It's bonkers, it's gay as hell, and it's a conversation you won't want to miss.

----

Become a Patron!

"Why would God make us all so different if he wanted us to be the same?"

The incomparable Sarah Marshall makes her mighty return to discuss one of the best films of the 2000s, the religious satire SAVED! Together with The Wives Colangelo, the trio discusses repression, queerness, being filled with Christ's love, a perfectly written script, cool pastors, teenage pregnancy, and why we all wish we were as cool as Cassandra Edelstein.

----

Become a Patron!

https://www.patreon.com/thisendsatprom

----

MONTHLY SUPPORT SPOTLIGHT

"I love self-loathing complaint rock you can dance to."

It's Harmony's birthday and whatever baby wants, baby gets, so we're upgrading Amy Heckerling's LOSER from the Sadie Hawkins Dance episodes on the Patreon and bringing Jason Biggs and co. to the main show! Let's talk about why so many people misunderstand the loveliness of this story, why Greg Kinnear should be in the villain hall-of-fame for his performance as Professor Alcott, sing the praises (again) of Mona May's costume design, and debate whether or not Everclear is secretly an emo band.

----

Become...

"How do you measure a year in the life?"

May-usical month comes to an end as The Wives Colangelo reflect on the film adaptation of Jonathan Larson's groundbreaking musical, RENT, 20 years later. What do we do with a show that was so important to a generation that hasn't quite held up to the hourglass of time? What do we do with a show that would probably benefit from some rewrites, but is untouchable as the last work of someone who was taken from us too soon? What the hell do we do with RENT?! Well, we're going...

"I sleep with women, but musicals make me feel gay!"

It's BJ's birthday week so she's forcing Harmony to watch a horror musical, the CAMP meets FRIDAY THE 13TH theatre geek slasher comedy, STAGE FRIGHT (2014). The Wives Colangelo are here to discuss the weirdest interpretations of beloved musicals, Meat Loaf (the man), theater kid jokes that hit just as hard 11 years later, and why this film is criminally underseen. All the world's a song to sing, so sing with all your heart!

----

Become a Patron!

https://www.patreon.com/thisendsatprom<...

"I may be a drape, but I love your granddaughter. And if that's a crime, I'll stand convicted, ma'am."

John Waters returns to This Ends at Prom with the second of his unofficial teen trilogy and first true musical, the 1950s satire, CRY-BABY. This week The Wives Colangelo are discussing finding your path in a rigid world, why Waters' brand of "beautiful" is the way to be, stressing the importance of staying true to yourself, and determining why Wanda Woodward is one of cinema's greatest badass babes.

----

Become a Patron!

...

"I'm not ashamed. It's just, for once, I just wanted to fit in and be popular."

May-Usical Month continues with another Disney Channel Original Movie, the Demi Lovato and Jonas Brothers summer camp musical, CAMP ROCK. This week, The Wives Colangelo are talking about the Radio Disney pop-rock machine (complete with Disney Knees), how nonsensical this plot is, and the unfortunately dark truth behind what was going on with the actors during production. Sing it out, Prom Party. "This is real, this is me! I'm exactly where I'm supposed to be, now!

----

...

"Does it really matter so long as you're having fun?"

May-Usical Month returns with an all-time great musical about a 19-year-old Cabaret singer in Berlin just before World War II, the original manic pixie dream girl — Fräulein Sally Bowles in CABARET. This week, The Wives Colangelo muse on one of their favorite films of all time and discuss the political commentary embedded in the story, why Bob Fosse's changes from the Broadway show were for the best, and why Liza Minnelli is truly one of the greatest to ever do it. Life is a Cabaret, old chu...

"We accept the love we think we deserve."

If you were on Tumblr in 2012, chances are you or someone you know had a huge THE PERKS OF BEING A WALLFLOWER phase. This week, The Wives Colangelo are talking about the book-turned-movie phenomenon, addressing their personal hang-ups from a decade ago, getting extremely candid about the ways they relate to Charlie, and why this story is far more important than its "hipster" reputation.

----

Become a Patron!

https://www.patreon.com/thisendsatprom

----

Article Referenced

How...

"Sometimes on the wind, I feel something say my name, telling me to come to some far-off place."

This week The Wives Colangelo are going back to the 1970s, heading into the Appalachian hills, and joining their friend Sam Pancake on a journey WHERE THE LILIES BLOOM. Together the trio discuss coming-of-age in rural communities, Hollywood's failure to accurately depict Appalachia, the parentification of young children properly, and why we all love Harry Dean Stanton.

----

Become a Patron!

https://www.patreon.com/thisendsatprom

----

Follow our...

"The only thing worse than being incompetent, or being unkind, or being evil, is being indecisive."

This week The Wives Colangelo are heading to Connecticut and contemplating whether or not being a jerk who wears Vineyard Vines is enough to justify meeting the sharp end of a kitchen utensil by discussing THOROUGHBREDS. Discussions for this gorgeous, creepy movie include trying to figure out why the emotionless Amanda is more relatable than the overly emotional Lily, why so many movies want to look like they were made by Yorgos Lanthimos, how growing up wealthy rots your brains, and...

"You're an individual, and that makes people nervous. And it's gonna keep making people nervous for the rest of your life."

On February 26, 2025, the world lost an influential performer in Michelle Trachtenberg. An icon in the world of teen movies and TV dramas, she first came into the hearts of many as the titular HARRIET THE SPY. In honor of her life, The Wives Colangelo are discussing one of the best kid's movies (that isn't structured at all like a kid's movie) that only feels like it's gotten more special as years have gone by. The first...

"You nicknamed my daughter after the loch-ness monster?!"

Sequel month comes to a close with the long-awaited conclusion to This Ends at Prom's coverage on The Twilight Saga. Joining The Wives Colangelo for a double-header episode is journalist and podcaster Rosie Knight, as the trio tackle the wedding, honeymoon, and sickly childbirth of Breaking Dawn Part 1, before diving into the fight-that-isn't-a-real-fight of Avatar: The Last Airbender vampires of Breaking Dawn Part 2. It's been a wild four years of Twilight movies. Imprint on us!

---

Become a Patron!

https://www.patreon.com...

"Witchcraft in general is such a charged word. We literally house babies in our stomachs. That's some Ridley Scott shit."

Sequel month is getting witchy as The Wives Colangelo are joined by the incomparable Alexandra Heller-Nicholas to discuss the highly controversial lega-sequel, THE CRAFT: LEGACY. Does this movie deserve all the hate it gets? Could this have been a beloved movie if it wasn't saddled with the name of a sacred IP? Will we ever get a "woke Timmy" spinoff? We're calling the corners and trying to find the answers, will you be our fourth?

...

"Speak up for the home of the brave. Speak up for the land of the free gift with purchase. Speak up, America!."

Sequel month continues as The Wives Colangelo follow Elle Woods to Capitol Hill as she fights for animal rights, becomes the ultimate gay dog ally, realizes just how corrupt the legislative system truly is and ... takes some huge steps back from the character growth shown in the first movie? Also, is Luke Wilson even in this movie or did they just greenscreen him in? The Wives have questions and they're searching for answers with LEGALLY...

"We got a chip on our shoulder and nothing to lose. And we’re not backing down from anyone. Aca Wiedersehen, bitches."

Sequel month is back with a vengeance and The Wives Colangelo are checking in with the Barden Bellas to see what they've been up to, and transport ourselves back to 2015. Are the PITCH PERFECT movies the most Obama-era films ever made? Why doesn't anyone talk about these movies after they made a ton of money? Why aren't we giving Elizabeth Banks blank checks to make whatever she wants from now until the sun burns out? Le...

Kirby: "I always thought we'd be friends forever."

Kevin: "Yeah, well forever got a lot shorter all of a sudden."

Despite popular belief, the Brack Pack wasn't established with a John Hughes movie, but instead in the wake of a film about recent college graduates struggling to adjust to adulthood called ST. ELMO'S FIRE. Over the past 40 years, the film has been declared "one of the worst films ever made," despite a star-studded cast of all-time greats, including Academy Award-nominee, Demi Moore. Does the movie deserve the hate? What does the Brat Pack obsession say...

"Goodbye Lizzie McGuire, hello fabulous."

Hey now, hey now! This is what dreams are made of! This week The Wives Colangelo are joined by freelance writer and Lizzie McGuire superfan Nina Starner to talk about THE LIZZIE MCGUIRE MOVIE! Discussions include European fantasies, the world's most anticlimactic kiss, the comedic genius of Alex Borstein, Taylor Dayne covers of RuPaul, and the fan theory that might make you believe Paolo did nothing wrong. Sing into your hairbrush and avoid your pesky little brother, we're going to the VMA--err, International Music Video Awards!

---

Become...

"Just because something is beautiful doesn´t mean it’s good."

Love is in the air and there's nothing more romantic than a Beauty and the Beast teen movie interpretation where a heartthrob boy gets turned into a bald and tattooed baddie to learn how to stop being such a jerkwad. That's right, The Wives Colangelo are embracing their inner Vanessa Hudgens, eating a box of jujyfruits, wearing smokey eye makeup with a flesh-toned lip, and talking about the most romantic subject of all ... body dysphoria and the politics of beauty!

---

Become a P...

"There was a little girl, who had a little curl, right in the middle of her forehead. When she was good, she was very good. But when she was bad, she was horrid."

Let's cut to the chase: everything sucks and we're filled with rage about the world, the government, and the people in charge, so let's watch a teenage girl take down fascists with her bare hands because catharsis and spite will help us get through it all. The Wives Colangelo left their blood, sweat, and tears in this episode, and they hope you'll do the...

"You know, we're more than just a club. We're friends. Best friends. Nothing could ever change that."

THE BABY-SITTER'S CLUB movie turns 30 years old this year, so The Wives Colangelo are installing a landline, hiding candy in books, giving back to the community, and being there for their best friend when her deadbeat dad blows her off on her birthday. Based on the best-selling and beloved book series of the same name, THE BABY-SITTER'S CLUB is a sleepover staple with great lessons for tween girls (save for Stacey's way older first-kiss), but does it hold up without...

"Men don't have to choose between love and power."

Contemporary teen movies thrive on streaming platforms, so this week The Wives Colangelo are talking about one of the best in recent memory, the Paramount+ film HONOR SOCIETY. Starring MEAN GIRLS: The Musical star Angourie Rice and STRANGER THINGS' Gaten Matarazzo, it's time to talk about the lengths teen girls will go to in an attempt to escape their hometowns, the granddaughters of ELECTION's Tracy Flick, making friends outside of your usual social group, and why being a cute nerd doesn't mean you're a good person.

...

"For those who fight for it, life has a flavor the sheltered will never know."

Can good intentions and stunning imagery be enough to overcome a lackluster script? Well, this week The Wives Colangelo are trying their damndest to find the silver lining in Zack Snyder's SUCKER PUNCH. Together your hosts fight through misery to champion the aesthetics, acting, and costumes, and try to dig up the empowerment fantasy in an anti-empowerment movie. Is there anything in SUCKER PUNCH actually for women, or is this another instance of a film that's about us without us? It's about...

"There's no such thing as truth. It's bullsh*t. Everyone has their own truth, and life just does whatever the f*ck it want."

To discuss the story of Tonya Harding is to discuss the ‘90s news cycle, “white trash America,” misogyny, and the vilification of girls living in poverty. This week The Wives Colangelo are talking about the Oscar-winning biopic, I, TONYA. This is a pretty charged conversation about the perceptions and assumptions society projects onto someone when the media needs a villain, and what happens when a person's reputation outlasts their humanity.

Be advise...

"I ain't got much time. I don't expect to live past 21. That's why I got to jam it all in now, you know?"

The Wives Colangelo are kicking off a brand new year by going back to 1980 to hang out with two best friends who are definitely in love and ready to take over TIMES SQUARE. The Wives discuss the brilliance of Robin Johnson, old-school teenage rebellion, edy teen films that are actually edgy, and the ways punk rock behavior hasn't exactly aged well. If Allan Moyle is in the director's chair, you know it's going to...

"God, the '80s are wild."

The Wives Colangelo are closing out the year by going back in time to the 1980s, fighting a slasher, and laughing their faces off with Today in Gay's Nay Bever! Topics on this week's episode include the true crime podcast industrial complex, the way preemptive statements are ruining us all, and how much worse all of our mommy issues would be if we went back in time and found out our moms were actually bullies.

----

Become a Patron!

www.patreon.com/thisendsatprom

...

"I am not hiding you! I am hiding me! Okay?"

It's the holiday season and The Wives Colangelo are diving headfirst into the discourse surrounding the lesbian rom-com that people have Very Strong Feelings about, Clea DuVall's 2020 feature, HAPPIEST SEASON. BJ compares Harper's family to the Von Erichs of THE IRON CLAW, Harmony talks about why she's not much of a Christmas girlie, and together they try to bring some much-needed balance to the polarizing discourse plaguing this movie every year.

----

Become a Patron!

https://www.patreon.com/thisendsatprom

"That's life. If nothing else, it's life. It's real, and sometimes it f*ckin' hurts, but it's sort of all we have."

20 years ago, Zach Braff made his feature directorial debut with a little indie film that won over the hearts of critics and audiences and changed the way female protagonists would be showcased in quarter-life crisis films forever. Despite the love shown to the film upon release, the years have not been kind to GARDEN STATE, and The Wives Colangelo are going to get to the bottom of why the tides have turned against it. Not...

"Do you think I'm weird?"

Four years ago, the hosts of this podcast fell in love with a movie called DINNER IN AMERICA, and the underground sensation has finally gotten the attention it has always deserved. In honor of this cult hit's evolution into an indie phenomenon, The Wives Colangelo are finally talking about their favorite movie (as a couple), waxing poetic about being Midwest trash, praising Kyle Gallner and Emily Skeggs' phenomenal performances, and maybe crying a little bit about how this movie changed their lives.

----

Become a Patron!

...

"I have to tell you a secret that will see you through all the trials that life can offer. Have courage and be kind."

It's the fourth Cinderella story covered on This Ends at Prom, and the one with the most heart. The Wives Colangelo are joined by comedian Fifi Dosch to talk about why CINDERELLA (2015) is an essential watch during times of turmoil, explore the film's unintentional neurodivergent and trans themes, gush about a Prince worthy of our Ella, and praise the power of sentimental cinema.

----

Become a Patron!

...

"If happy little bluebirds fly beyond the rainbow, why oh why can't I?"

With the premiere of WICKED just days away, The Wives Colangelo are going back 85 years to discuss arguably the most-watched film in history, and one that happens to also be a teen girl movie — The Wizard of Oz. A film that has been analyzed for decades, This Ends at Prom is focusing on Dorothy's journey into a technicolor world of escapism, recognizing the parallels between Dorothy Gale and Judy Garland's bleak coming-of-age experiences, and losing it over the Scarecrow's weapon of choice. Surrender Dorothy! We...

"Once, there was this day... this one day when... everyone realized they needed each other."

Thanksgiving is just around the corner, so The Wives Colangelo are discussing a rare festive film. Most people remember PIECES OF APRIL for the cover art of an alternative Katie Holmes with choppy bangs and box-dyed red hair, but few remember the micro-budget charm of a story about an estranged young woman attempting to host what might be the last holiday she ever has with her family before her mother passes from cancer. With an Oscar-nominated performance from Patricia Clarkson and a...

"You can't let Dick run your life!"

We were hoping the election would turn out much different than it did, but this isn't the first time America has dealt with a crook for a president, and statistically speaking, won't be the last. To distract us from the impending horrors, we're celebrating the 25th anniversary of the teen-girls-take-down-the-president classic, DICK. Full disclosure, this episode is probably going to get BURIED by algorithms based on the film's name so if you want to do us a solid and share this week's episode with a friend, we'll make you some...

"So many pretty parts and no pretty wholes."

Happy Halloween, Prom Party! The Wives Colangelo are closing out the most wonderful time of the year by diving into Lucky McKee's indie horror masterpiece, May. Grab your scissors and pile of doll parts because topics this week include the dreaded "things would be different if the roles were reversed" conversation, trying to determine what the inverse of pansexuality is, gushing about Angela Bettis, Anna Faris, Jeremy Sisto, and James Duval, and attempting to tackle the loneliness epidemic.

----

Become a Patron!

https...

"Maybe demons aren’t the most trustworthy beings to make a deal with?"

Spooky season continues on with the best stop-motion movie from Henry Selick to watch during Halloween, and we're not talking about the one with Jack Skellington. Join The Wives Colangelo for the gateway horror movie with the best ska and punk soundtrack imaginable, WENDELL & WILD. Discussions this week include navigating thoughts of mortality, introducing children to the concept of the school-to-prison pipeline, and what it means to fight your inner demons.

----

Become a Patron!

www.patreon.com/th...

"Well, the idea that there was any control to begin with is a f*cking illusion. There's only one thing in the universe we have even the tiniest bit of control over -- ourselves."

Y'all wanna hear an episode about independent filmmaking and telling passionate stories? In a special spooky season treat, The Wives Colangelo are joined by director Clare Cooney to talk about her latest feature film, the queer supernatural high school slasher, DEPARTING SENIORS. Together the trio discuss the horror movies that inspired the picture, the evolution of the "final girl," and what it was...

"Never let anyone pick on you. Otherwise, you'll carry it with you the rest of your life."

10 years ago, Adam Wingard, Simon Barrett, Dan Stevens, and Maika Monroe joined forces to make one of the best indie action thrillers set on Halloween, THE GUEST. This is the movie that introduced genre fans to Dan Stevens and proved that Wingard and Barrett could do more than just horror. A decade later, The Wives Colangelo are here to discuss why the film makes for a perfect Halloween watch, and why more people need to listen to 20-year-old girls when...

"Whatever you do... don't fall asleep."

A Nightmare on Elm Street is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year, so The Wives Colangelo are joined by guests Julia Marchese and Teri Gamble of The Horror Movie Survival Guide podcast to talk about the slasher greatness of Robert Englund as Freddy Krueger, why practical effects will always reign supreme, and why Heather Langenkamp's Nancy Thompson is the ultimate final girl. We're pretending palm trees exist in Ohio, remembering a time when Johnny Depp was someone worth pining, and paying our respects to teen horror maestro, the late, great Wes...

"We didn’t know the Wolfwalkers were real. That you were people."

Inside you, there are two wolves... and they're both gay and looking for family and community who love you unconditionally. This week The Wives Colangelo are joined by film critic Leigh Monson to discuss one of the most criminally underseen coming-of-age animated films of the last decade, the incredible WOLFWALKERS from Cartoon Saloon. Together the trio discusses the film's queer metaphors, gush about beautiful storybook animation, and discuss whether or not the film was snubbed at the Oscars.

Find out how to support Th...

"Crying helps me slow down and obsess over the weight of life's problems."

This Ends at Prom's month of animation continues with a Pixar film about an 11-year-old girl that made grown adults sob to the point of dry heaving. It's the movie where even feelings have feelings, so The Wives Colangelo are gonna have a whole lot of them with INSIDE OUT. Let's discuss which parts make BJ and Harmony cry, explain why all emotions are important emotions, and celebrate the fact Richard Kind finally makes an appearance on the show!

Find out how t...

"Kids. Little kids. They grow up believing that they can be a hero if they drive a sword into the heart of anything different. And I'm the monster?"

To help raise awareness of the fight of The Animation Guild's quest for a better contract, The Wives Colangelo are kicking off a month of celebrating recently released animated coming-of-age films and starting with NIMONA. Let's talk about queerness, introducing heavy themes to children, not shying away from issues of mental health, and BJ breaks her record for the time it takes to start crying in an episode! IT'S...

"We are not one-dimensional. We are smart and fun!"

This Ends at Prom turns four this week, which means we're finally seniors! To celebrate, we're honoring five years of BOOKSMART, one of the best teen girl movies of the 21st century and a perfect time capsule of millennial nostalgia and liberal politics. BJ admits that she's a lot more like Beanie Feldstein's Molly than she'd ever care to admit, Harmony gushes over how much she loves Skyler Gisondo and Bille Lourd, and together they try to figure out why BOOKSMART continues to get outshined by LADY BIRD.<...

"We knew the girls were really women in disguise, that they understood love, and even death, and that our job was merely to create the noise that seemed to fascinate them."

Sofia Coppola's directorial debut delivered the world a new look at the Lisbon Sisters, undeniably feminine atmospheric filmmaking, an examination of the way men examine women, and generations of women responded by romanticizing their pain and aestheticizing turmoil as a means of processing negative emotions. This week, the Wives Colangelo are joined by a dear friend of the show, Miranda Zickler, to discuss why THE VIRGIN...

"You really need to stop shoving your psychotic idea of '50s womanhood down my throat."

15 years ago, Drew Barrymore and Elliot Page joined forces to deliver a fresh new take on the teenage girl's coming-of-age experience with WHIP IT. Not only did the film help introduce roller derby to the masses, but it proved there's more to girlhood than beauty pageants and pleasing Marcia Gay Harden. Pick out your derby name and get ready to jam, because The Wives Colangelo are ready to run the rink.

----

Become a Patron!

...

"This is not a big deal. They're teenage girls. They have sex. Do you, like, freak out when you see a bee f*cking a flower?"

Finally, a movie that actually ends at prom! This week the Wives Colangelo are discussing Kay Cannon's criminally underrated parent-child prom night comedy, BLOCKERS. Let us discuss Dad-mode John Cena, honor yet another Kathryn Newton performance, talk about parents needing to learn to let go of their kids, and wonder if this was the the death knell of studio-distributed sex comedies.

----

Become a Patron!

...

"Do I look like I own tights?"

This week the Wives Colangelo are diving back into the world of dance movies and finally tackling STEP UP. Joining your hosts is film critic and podcaster William Bibbiani, who makes a strong argument as to why the STEP UP franchise is the best film franchise out there. Let's talk about the uncomfortable era of white boys appropriating hip-hop culture, lay the groundwork for eventual discussions on the sequels, and figure out why STEP UP became the winner of the dance movie wars of the 2000s.

----

"But mostly I hate the way I don't hate you. Not even close, not even a little bit, not even at all."

195 episodes ago, The Wives Colangelo covered 10 THINGS I HATE ABOUT YOU, the movie that inspired the podcast's existence in the first place. Harmony came down HARD on the film and BJ had an existential crisis about it. But that was before Harmony became well-versed in the ways of teen girl movies, so in honor of the show's 200th episode and the 25th anniversary of the film, it's time the movie is given a closer look...

“I’ll show you how valuable Elle Woods can be.”

The Wives Colangelo have held off on covering LEGALLY BLONDE until there was a guest wanting to talk about the film that was deserving of Ms. Elle Woods and culture critic Bobbi Miller is here to join This Ends at Prom in finally giving our favorite Cosmo girl/lawyer her due. This week the show discusses the anti-femme hate of the 2000s, why Jennifer Coolidge is a national treasure, and why doing something out of spite is sometimes the best way to learn about yourself.

----<...

"I'm no dame!"

65 years ago, a blonde small fry played by Sandra Dee picked up a surf board, showed the boys at the beach what she was made of, and completely changed the world. No, really. In honor of the anniversary of the teen beach movie that started it all, GIDGET, The Wives Colangelo are diving in deep and discussing the groundbreaking source material, how a teenage girl is responsible for popularizing surfing in the continental United States, and look at how unintentionally gay this movie is and has always been.

----

Become...

Cadet Captain Jennifer Stone: "You're on my list, maggot!" Kelly Collins: "You'd be on mine if I had one!"

Some folks celebrate the 4th of July in the States as Independence Day, but here at This Ends at Prom we're honoring the queer tension of the military school propaganda disguised as a Disney Channel Original Movie, CADET KELLY. We've got Lizzie McGuire and Kim Possible doing aggressive drill team dance-offs and Gary Cole demanding to be called "Sir." This is a shorter episode so you can get back to eating food off the grill, blowing...

"Is she in slow motion again?"

As Pride Month comes to a close, The Wives Colangelo are diving into a sapphic romantic comedy that's so sweet it'll give you a cavity with CRUSH (2022). Would a pun be enough to steal your heart? Have you ever done something you're not good at just to get closer to your crush? Has your mom given you a glow-in-the-dark dental dam? Let's dive in!

----

Become a Patron!

https://www.patreon.com/thisendsatprom

----

Article Referenced

The Crush Drama...

"Come on, it's not every day that your best friend grows a penis."

It's been a while since The Wives Colangelo tackled a body-swap movie, so they're throwing good taste out the window and giving THE HOT CHICK a fair shake. Everyone remembers all of the problematic elements, but do you remember all of the heart? It's a complicated movie starring a super close-minded jerk, but for a movie trying to profit off of shock value, there's a shocking amount of pro-teen girl goodness in this odd time capsule.

----

Become a Patron!<...

"What's her problem anyway? She don't eat, she don't talk, she don't do anything!"

You didn't think The Wives Colangelo were going to write and and release a book about SLEEPAWAY CAMP and not do an episode on it, did you? Years in the making, This Ends at Prom finally tackles one of the most important and impactful films for both of the hosts, give a sneak peek at some of the conversations that can be found in their book, and discuss why this low-budget slasher still has merit after all these years. Meet us at the...

"Ever since I was a child, people said my family was cursed. Mom tried to protect us with God. Dad tried to protect us with wrestling."

It's Harmony's birthday so The Wives Colangelo are honoring her teen girl experience by talking about one of the most important things to her coming-of-age: professional wrestling. And there's no better way to dissect growing up in a masculine space and the crushing pressure of the patriarchy than to talk about Sean Durkin's phenomenal film, THE IRON CLAW. Joining the team is returning guest and dear friend Alex Steed, who is...

"Poets, geniuses, revolutionaries. Lemonade Mouth has been called all of these things. But the real story, the story of our band came to be, is a mystery to them all."

May-usical Month comes to a close with an all-time great Disney Channel Original Movie and arguably the best made-for-TV teen movie about a fake band, ever, LEMONADE MOUTH! This week the Wives Colangelo are joined by returning guest Michael Varrati to talk about DCOMs as baby's first cult films, why this movie transcends its target audience, and we say a prayer to Lesbian Jesus.

----<...

"Seventeen and you can't stop me! Seventeen and you won't boss me! You cannot control me father! Daddy's girl's a fucking monster!"

It's BJ's birthday so to celebrate the Wives Colangelo are getting goth, singing their faces off, and making sure their organ payments are on time as to not face the Repo Man. That's right, it's finally time for REPO! THE GENETIC OPERA! What's up with the Vaseline filter? Is this Paris Hilton's best role? And where exactly does that Zydrate come from? These questions and more are answered in this week's episode.

-----<...

“It was the first time I realized that absolute reality could be so much more fun than fantasy"

While this one might only be a musical on a technicality, the theatrical, over-the-top, explosive feelings of CONFESSIONS OF A TEENAGE DRAMA QUEEN were worth talking about! Lindsay Lohan is a compulsive liar and Megan Fox is the meanest, hottest girl in school, what more could you want? This week The Wives Colangelo discuss falling in love with rock stars, making friends with wildly different parents than your own, and the hilarity of Carol Kane committing to the theater te...

“I mean, if I don't have a personality of my own, so what? I'm an actress! I can put on as many personalities as I want!"

The Wives Colangelo are tackling one of the very few movies This Ends at Prom will ever cover to have won an Oscar, let alone two! That's right, it's time to audition for FAME. This week's discussions include coming-of-age in a landscape that already treats you like an adult, why Irene Cara is a tour de force, and gush about working-class dads who love their sons.

-----

Be...

“I will grind you to sand beneath my Louboutin heel."

One of the most important teen movies in history was given the musical treatment this year, but the studios certainly didn't make that clear! The Wives Colangelo are kicking off MAYusical month 2024 with MEAN GIRLS: THE MUSICAL (THE MOVIE)! Let's talk about Renee Rapp's legendary press tour, updating the characters and jokes (or lack thereof) for a new generation, and the unfair ruthlessness of Gen Z's TikTok reviews of the film and one particular performance...

-----

Become a Patron!

https://www.pa...

“Kat, such a good girl. Where did we go wrong with her sister Daisy?"

The coming-of-age of three young Portuguese-American friends who work at a pizza parlor in a seaside Connecticut town, MYSTIC PIZZA tells three different stories of girls growing up, learning about love, and trying to figure out what's in the secret sauce of the best pizza in town. This week the Wives Colangelo are worshipping working-class women with big hair, thirsting after a weirdly hot Vincent D’Onofrio, mocking rich WASP names like "Steamer," and telling a very special story from Harmony!

...

“There was only one way I'd ever get what I wanted. I would have to become exactly like those people l saw getting kissed in the movies. I would have to become: a superstar."

25 years ago, Molly Shannon brought her beloved Saturday Night Live character to the big screen with a hilarious coming-of-age film filled with actors in their 30s playing high schoolers, an abundance of references to old made-for-TV movies, Will Ferrell as Jesus, multiple scenes of a girl making out with a tree, and sketch comedy legends doing what they do best to give us SU...

“Life sucks and people are jerk-offs."

We're only four months into 2024 and we've already got a killer coming-of-RAGE story to talk about, Zelda Wililams and Diablo Cody's LISA FRANKENSTEIN! The Wives Colangelo discuss '80s teen comedies, the glory of being an actual weird girl, the return of Diablo Cody to the teen girl horror space, and we hear from This Ends at Prom's official pre-teen correspodent, Roxie Allen (who has made this film her entire personality). Dig in, weirdos!

-----

Become a Patron!

https://www.patreon.com/thisendsatprom

...

“Just goes to show you, Nick. You can never be too careful."

The incomparable Sarah Marshall joins The Wives Colangelo this week to tackle one of the prickliest teen girl movies out there, and celebrate the feature film debut of Alicia Silverstone with THE CRUSH. Let's talk about the deeply weird true story behind the film, try to figure out the logistics of putting a functional carousel in an attic, and the effectiveness of weaponizing bees. The show gets into some weird and dark territory, but with Sarah Marshall around, there's still plenty of laughs to be ha...

“You can torture us and bomb us and burn our districts to the ground. But do you see that? Fire is catching... And if we burn... you burn with us!"

Sequel month comes to an end as The Wives Colangelo close the chapter of THE HUNGER GAMES trilogy. This week the show tackles the financial decisions to split the story into two movies, discuss the film's (unfortunate) continued relevance, and honor Donald Sutherland - the current frontrunner for the male actor who has appeared in the most movies discussed on the show thus far. Happy Hunger Games, an...

“I want you to know that just by trying out today, you're already a winner. Unless of course you get cut, in which case, technically a loser."

Bring it? Oh, it's already been brought-en. Sequel month continues as the wives finally dive back into the cheerleading juggernaut franchise with BRING IT ON AGAIN, and are joined by writer, musician, and all-around badass, Tara Giancaspro. Together they discuss old school mascots, the effectiveness of cheering in family heirloom pearls, and wonder why this film is so forgotten for being shockingly hilarious.

----

Become a Pa...

“I always wanted to be one of the shiny, happy people.."

Sequel month continues with an oft-maligned legacy sequel, THE RAGE: CARRIE 2. The Wives Colangelo discuss the wild production history, praise the film's ahead-of-its-time themes, wonder whether or not Rachel was secretly in love with Lisa, and crown Walter the dog as Horror's Goodest Boy Who Doesn't Want To Be In a Horror Movie. They're all gonna laugh at you, but that's okay ... just crucify them with some CDs.

----

Become a Patron!

https://www.patreon.com/thisendsatprom

------

“I punched a werewolf in the face."

Sequel month is back and The Wives Colangelo are continuing on their adventures through the TWILIGHT franchise with the third installment, ECLIPSE. Let's talk about weird flashback sequences, PG-13 violence, try to resist making fun of "newborn vampires," and wonder if the Wives will once again be on Team Charlie. Will Harmony like this one better than NEW MOON? Listen in and find out!

----

Become a Patron!

https://www.patreon.com/thisendsatprom

------

Check out the Burke Museum's "Truth vs...

“My daydream was always the same - that some day, I was going to get to Chicago, because that's where they make Dance TV."

This week The Wives Colangelo are heading back to the 1980s and dancing to their hearts' content with GIRLS JUST WANT TO HAVE FUN. Does doing backflips automatically mean you're the best dancer? Why didn't we teach white girls with curly hair what to do other than brush them out into frizz? Will anyone ever be as cool as Helen Hunt in a grasshopper hat? Let's try to answer these questions and so mu...

“Mister, I'm a person!"

Women in prison! True Crime! Sleaze! Revenge! This week This Ends at Prom getting filthy, sleazy, and seeing a version of Reese Witherspoon that would inspire the real-life Elle Woods to kick ass in court with Matthew Bright's FREEWAY. Joining the Wives Colangelo is comedian, host, and author Elizabeth Teets as the trio dive into one of the edgiest teen films of the 1990s. You'll be shouting "EL SEXO" with a southern accent in no time!

-----

Become a Patron! 

https://www.patreon.com/thisendsatprom

“I write a letter when I have a crush so intense I don't know what else to do."

You never forget your first love, and for Lara Jean Covey, all of those loves happening at once makes for one hell of an emotional rollercoaster. In honor of Valentine's Day, The Wives Colangelo are discussing TO ALL THE BOYS I'VE LOVED BEFORE and talking about teen romance films that aren't "rom-coms," the wild swing Netflix took in allowing the hot tub tape scene to play out, and BJ reads a love letter from Harmony on air!

...

“Hell is a teenage girl."

15 years ago, Diablo Cody and Karyn Kusama joined forces to create one of the best teen girl films of all time, JENNIFER'S BODY. Critics didn't understand it, it was marketed for an audience that was never going to love it, but the die-hard fans who knew the truth kept it alive. Now, reclaimed 15 years later, we're revisiting the film and talking about the journey it went on from cult-hit to bonafide teen classic, and embracing the return of Diablo Cody to teen girl horror comedy with LISA FRANKENSTEIN. 

-----

Bec...